founded in oakland in 2002 by james freeman, blue bottle has become a cult protagonist of quality coffee, opening a number of popular cafés – some even with an on-site coffee roastery – on the u.s. west and east coast. fussy about coffee, blue bottle's appeal is based on a product that's superfresh, and served in cool setting that has the feel of a neighbourhood's extended living room. a cool extended living room, to be precise. the company has now ventured abroad for the very first time, introducing its coffee retail concept to tokyo's discerning palates. occupying a 7,000 sq.ft. [650 sqm.] ground floor space of a converted printing factory in the kiyosumi area, blue bottle's newest outlet is certainly big enough to include a roastery that ensures a daily supply of the prized commodity. the interior design is courtesy of jo nagasaka of schemata architects, a tokyo-based practice familiar with and known for an austere, industrial aesthetic. not surprisingly, much of the printing factory's original elements have been retained, and next to the aforementioned roastery and a coffee bar, it features a kitchen and office space. blue bottle's new roastery will serve as the base for future expansion in the tokyo region. mind you, the next café is slated to open later this month in leafy aoyama. location: 1-4-6 hirano [kiyosumi].

after last month's culinary stint at colette's popular waterbar, sajigohan relocates a few blocks away and morphs into a pop-up restaurant, just in time for the next round of fashion week hoopla. opening today, and for the next ten days only, it's an initiative by miho – a japanese fashion photographer and food expert based in tokyo and paris – and serves a range of authentic japanese bites. abiding by the creed you are what you eat, the menu lists dishes that aren't just tasty. they're light, nutritious, and obviously packed with quality ingredients only. mind you, more than ten years ago miho set up a glossy food magazine in her native japan which elaborates on the multi-faceted world of food and the art of cooking, showing off her own cooking style and talking to chefs and other creatives. needless to say, sajigohan aims to tickle all of your senses. well, alsmost all. fancy a bite? then click here to make your online reservation. location: 16 rue marie stuart [étienne marcel].

trained as a graphic designer, albert watson [1942] initially took on photography as a mere hobby. he spent many years doing various stints to make a living, and it was only when he arrived in the u.s. that his career as a photographer took off. watson's lucky break was a test shoot for global cosmetics firm max factor, and not long after that his distinct photography style would grace the covers of some of the planet's leading fashion magazines, capture prestigious ad campaigns, and portray the biggest names in film and showbiz. the latter certainly made him a household name in that specific industry, adding extra lustre to his curriculum. an exhibition of watson's work has just opened at the multimedia art museum in moscow, and forms part of a fashion + style in photography program of the moscow international biennale. on this occasion, the new york-based lensman has flown into town to attend the exhibition opening and to give a special master class to local photo buffs [on through may 10]. location: location: ulitsa ostozhenka 16 [khamovniki].

belmorecraft men's and women's footwear and accessories with an artisanal edge. its product range is made using simple construction methods and a straightforward design, with an emphasis on quality materials, function and longevity. after having opened two temporary signature stores at homebase melbourne, belmore has recently launched a new downtown location at somerset place. similarly to the previous stores, the interior here leans on an industrial look. the side walls and floor come in a pristine white hue, framing an expansive partition of repurposed metal mesh panels which conceals a storage space, and ties in a custom-made sales desk made from oxidized iron. additional furnishings have been kept to a minimum and feature display units and benches to present its collection of shoes and accessories. the new belmore shop carries the brand's full range of men's and women's shoes and belts. location: 19 somerset place [cbd].